Getting out of the reading slump of my life - spring of 2026

Good morning from Jakobstad!

I hope you're having a nice warm and sunny spring! 

We are really having nice weather here and it's very sunny almost every day! It helps with everything really and keeps me happy and upbeat. I realised lately what a huge horrible reading slump I have been for years really! It is awful. But a lot better now. I have read and listened to 23 books so far in 2026. I have been in a very very VERY big "reading with my eyenballs"-slump, so to say. I have only been listening to audiobooks and I have lost the joy and experience of reading with my eyeballs! Recently I have been trying to rekindle that joy and habit, so I have been reading books that I don't have on audio or some that I want to try to read with my eyeballs first before trying the audiobook. I often love reading along.... But it doesn't appeal to me so often. I have definitely lost some of my ability to focus! It's horrible... But as I said, I have read 23 books so far this year and some of them have been rereads. I can post the link to my challenge here:

Goodreads challenge 2026

Wish me luck with my goal! :) 

I am currently reading with my eyeballs only "Colorless Tsukuru and his years of pilgrimage" by Haruki Murakami. I am really liking it so far, I am on page 97... It's very different and my first Japanese book. I have read a book from India, two books by an American Chinese lady and one historical fiction about things happening in China. During my years at the University of Stockholm our teacher was from India and we read a wonderful book that still is striking in my memory (I read it in 2001). It's named "the God of small things" by Arudanthi Roy. It was amazing. I still have it at home. I haven't read it since the University but I just remember it was amazing. That's the only thing I remember and that there were twins in the book... I love books about twins. It started with the Sweet Valley Twin series by Francine Pascal and since then I have been fascinated by books about twins. My first ever Sweet Valley twins book was the collection with all the four first books in the series. My dad gave it to me when we were visiting London in February 1993. I was 12 years old and hadn't read a lot, especially not in English! LOL. It was my first book in English, I love it a lot.

Well, I hope you're all having a great reading year! 

Until next time! 

Bye bye bye! LOL

Cinders

Happy Halloween!

 Happy Halloween! 

Today is Halloween and I have spent most of today relistening to a favorite thriller 

"They never learn" by Layne Fargo

I have about two hours of it left. I just can't stop, it is really a "ear turner" for me. I have a very difficult time doing other things. I just want to listen to it to the end. It has been a few years since I listened to it. A few weeks ago I bought it as an audiobook, because I love the narration and the book in general. There are some scenes that are a bit "too sexy" for me. If the book would leave some of that out, it would have been an all time favorite. Sorry Layne Fargo!

Now that I will most likely listen to it to the end, I can start another Halloween-y book! YAY!

Maybe some of my countless Swedish crime and horror books (also, I have one from Norway and one from Denmark, but I own them in Swedish...) I love "Nordic noir" books. I lived in Stockholm for 12 years, so that has influenced my taste a lot. I started reading with  my eyeballs 👀 Läckberg and Lexeus' book: BOX. I got it from a friend. It is really gruesome and I almost already DNF's it after less than the first chapter, but I will try to continue. If it gets to be too much, I will DNF it. 

I also love reading Fantasy and Sci-Fi on Halloween. I think it might be because I don't really vibe with death, gore and guts... :D HAHA! :D But you know what I mean? I think some Fantasy books are scary enough! I might reread some Fantasy, or restart for example: "The priory of the orange tree" by Samantha Shannon. As for Sci-fi, I REALLY love aquatic sci fi... Like Sphere by Michael Crichton, The swarm by Frank Schätzing. I also love Ready player one by Ernest Cline.

I have ordered yet another pile of books for me, they will be my Christmas gifts! :) I love the book store I go to and I am very loyal to them! 

https://www.suomalainen.com/pages/kauppakeskus-ratina  

This is not a paid sponsorship! I just think they are so nice and friendly. They know me well. I remember many worker's names, they all know my name!  It's so nice. Once I was gifted a box of chocolate! (From the staff). They are lovely. I was loyal to them even through the pandemic. :) 

I have gotten so many recs for horror and thriller and crime books from booktube!  I know that some people don't like getting their recs from booktube but I love it! From Jordaline I have gotten the most recs, I think... For example "no one gets out alive" by Adam Nevill, "The dumb house! by John Burnside and many more but I can't think of them right now... 

I might also continue my reread of Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton. One of my all time favorite books! I own it in Swedish, I got it from my aunt when I was maybe 13 years old. I have read it more than five times!

HAPPY SPOOKY SEASON!

Updates on my reading goals of 2025...

 Good morning everybody!

SO. I am four books behind the schedule I have set for myself for 2025. 

I often mark a book as read and DNF'd when they have wasted my time and I really didn't like them.

I am not feeling guilt for DNF'ing books anymore... My time is precious.

https://www.goodreads.com/readingchallenges/gr/annual/2025/QTNNUjhLMFlFMk9HWkkMjAyNQ

My current status of my reading goal :)

Having anxiety and other hobbies doesn't really help my reading slumps... I am SO often in reading slumps. I need to get back on track, but it takes a long while to get back to reading. When I have anxiety because I am tired, I can't concentrate and hence, I end up in a slump and it just gets more difficult. It's an evil circle :D HAHA.

More later!

Cinders

Sunrise on the reaping -readathon with Katie Colson

 Hello there, dear reader! 

Today is the 10th day of the "Sunrise on the reaping" -readathon hosted by Katie Colson!

I really really really love participating in it! It's my first readathon where I actually read a lot. Katie saved me from my slump! :) We have a lot of sprints, almost on a daily basis. I won a giveaway and I was gifted ONE month on Katie's Patreon! :) SO happy and excited. This readathon will last the whole month of July... I have been having health issues and I need to rest a lot, it really helps me read more... Count your blessings!

During the first four or five days I listened to the hunger games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. I was really happy to do that, because I haven't read for months! I am going to try to hit each prompt and I have chosen a preliminary TBR... More about that later!

Here is Katie's channel on YouTube:

@KatieColson

This is the link to her Patreon:

Katie's Patreon

The Patreon is SO nice, the people there are so kind. I have never met nicer people online! :) 

Especially during this readathon, I am moved by the kindness and friendship I have felt with everyone who is participating. You don't need to be on Katie's Patreon to participate in the readathon but I think it's even more fun! :) 

I will post my TBR and other things later!

TA! Cinders

An update of my reading life

 Good morning from the North, dear reader,

Lately I changed my reading goal to 45, which is my age (on my birthday in May). I have now read and/or listened to 12 books this year so far. I am "on track", it makes me happy. I hope to gain momentum from my recent reads and raise my goal back up to 50 or even 52 books... I am an overachiever or I wish to be one (often, not always). I am maybe a little bit too harsh on myself sometimes. 

Here is my Goodreads profile, if you want to be my friend or follow me:

Goodreads

I am so grateful because I have been collecting books basically all my life, so now I almost have a never-ending TBR pile (To Be Read). I also have a lot of them as audiobooks. Some of them I have not listened to yet. I love immersive reading and it is easier for me to concentrate. I often also listen to non-fiction. It is my favorite kind of audiobook to listen to. Weird, because I would think it would be easier to learn and retain the knowledge by reading with your eyeballs, but nope! Not for me! HAHA! 

Otherwise my "immediate TBR" are some of my physical books at home, that are my most anticipated ones. Not like current or latest, just the ones I have been putting off until "the right moment". I love reading. I often feel anxiety when I can't choose what to read next, but I always have (or almost always) my nostalgic relistens on a never-ending loop: The Harry Potter -books by JK Rowling (I listen to them once a year at least) and The Twilight -Saga by Stephenie Meyer. I know those authors are not perfect and I am not standing for the opinions of JK and I don't appreciate the toxic traits of some of the characters in Twilight. I just relisten to them, they are the nostalgic kick I sometimes need. I have not read the eight book in the Harry Potter series, I don't know if I will. I do own it. I bought it before JK revealed her opinions. Anyway, there is a chance I might read the eight book because it's so easy to read fast, I don't know yet.

In other news, I have noticed that I love reading books with "different" kind of characters. I have autism and ADHD, I have always been different. I relate to that. Also, I didn't grow up at the proper pace, because I had some difficulties as a child and I still love Young Adult books and other books intended for younger readers.

Have a good reading weekend! Until next time! 

TA! :D 

The Helmet reading challenge: choosing the books...

 Good morning everyone!

Yesterday I did the laborious task of writing down each prompt in my reading journal, in Finnish. I am only starting to choose books for each prompt. I think I will update my blog and tell you all what I read, once I have finished the book(s). I might update about a few books at a time or only one. I don't know yet. It will come to me. LOL.

Here are the prompts again, straight up:

1. The book title has a subordinating conjunction (for example: after, although, as if, as much as, because, before, if, once, since, than, unless, until, whenever, while)

2. Fantasy book

3. The main character of the book is younger than you

4. The characters of the book stay up at night

5. A book someone else has chosen for you

6. The book has a prologue, i.e. a preface

7. A book that brings you joy

8. The main colour of the book cover is green or the book title has the word green in it

9. There is a conflict in the book

10. The characters of the book go to the movies

11. A non-fiction book published in the 2020s

12. The book has a mean or evil female character

13. The author has worked in the library

14. The translator of the book has won the Mikael Agricola Prize or some other translation award

15. The characters are shipwrecked

16. A book with a family tree or character list

17. The main character of the book has a cat or a dog as a pet

18. The author’s name has more than two parts

19. The book is on Keltainen kirjasto’s list of books

20. You think the book would make a good movie or TV series

21. There is a musician in the book

22. The characters are on holiday

23. You like the book’s name

24. The characters do something illegal

25. There is a snake on the cover or in the title of the book

26. The book includes a chosen family

27. A book that is banned in some country and published in the 21st century

28. The book takes place on a lake

29. The author’s latest book

30. There is a wedding or a funeral in the book

31. Career is important to the main character

32. The book has something to do with Tove Jansson (Moomins 80 years)

33. The characters ride horses

34. There is a famous building in the book (The Year of Built Heritage 2025)

35. The title of the book has the word “man” or “boy” or their conjugation

36. The characters study at a boarding school

37. The author is from a country you would like to visit

38. Biographical novel

39. The characters are solving a mystery

40. In the book, time or a clock/watch plays an important role

41. The book takes place in an era you would not want to live in

42. The main character of the book makes bad choices

43. There is a spice in the title, cover or description of the book

44. The characters take care of a person (Finnish Nurses 100 years)

45. The characters include a father and daughter

46. A popular book that everyone else seems to have read

47. Two books in which the main characters have the same name

48. Two books in which the main characters have the same name

49. The book was published in 2025

50. The book was recommended by a library employee

There are some errors in the grammar at least, as far as I know, but it's OK. Nobody is perfect. I shouldn't maybe be pointing that out but if you are good at English, you might notice the errors... Sorry! 

Anyway, I am soon starting to find books for each prompt from my already owned books. I will (probably not) be buying books for some of the prompts. I have never succeeded in this challenge and I don't expect it this time either. I am excited and happy that I can try to complete it though...

I here is my goodreads goal for this year:

https://www.goodreads.com/readingchallenges/annual

Do you guys have goodreads? You may add me there, if you would like.

More later! 

The Helmet reading challenge 2025

 Dear reader(s),

Each and every year, the past few years, I have wanted to participate in the Helmet reading challenge... 

https://helmet-tukisivusto.hel.fi/en/recommendations/helmet-reading-challenge-2025/

It consists of 50 prompts, that you will read a book for. I already asked the librarian here in Jakobstad for a rec and I haven't yet read her recommendation, she gave me five suggestions. One I have read before, one that did not interest me in the slightest and one that is so awful I donated it after I read one page (last year in Tampere). She also recommended a few others, if I remember correctly. But I only want to read the one I have read before and maybe the one that's new, that she said is a kind of sci fi and very different:

"Axiom's end" by Lindsay Ellis...

I will borrow it or buy it in Tampere, I can't take it with me to Tampere.

The one I would like to reread is:

"The world according to Garp" by John Irving...

That used to be my favorite book.

Anyway. :) My goal is to read 100 books this year. So far I am already one book behind schedule. That is awful I know. It's difficult for me to get back into reading with my eyeballs, I have been listening to so many audiobooks :( But they have been pretty good. At home in Tampere I have a huge pile of new books that I bought last year, I only took one book with me to Jakobstad hahhah! I know, very unusual for me LOL.

My parents are napping. I am "sprinting" i.e. reading and writing. 

We have sprints with Gavin in the evening. Here is Gavin's channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@GavinReadsItAll

He is so awesome. I admire people like him. Really fun to sprint with him and the other Patreons.

I experienced some booktube drama for the first time last year when a booktuber thought I was either really obsessed with becoming her friend or that I imagined myself being her friend. That was really a different kind of experience. I have never been through that before. I am still a bit flabbergasted to be honest. But it's okay. Not everyone can understand me. And I was in a weird mood back then, I was maybe having some hyper active behavioral problems or something. Thank goodness it's over!

I read 50 books last year! :) I am starting soon planning my TBR for Helmet. 

See ya!